Ancelotti keeping Torres fresh for City

17 March 2011 09:00

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Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists the only reason Fernando Torres started on the bench against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night was to keep him fresh for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at Manchester City.
The £50million striker has endured a frustrating time since joining the Blues in January, failing to find the net in any of his six appearances for the Londoners.
Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka were chosen ahead of the Spaniard as Chelsea eked out a goalless draw that saw them progress past Copenhagen 2-0 on aggregate and into the Champions League quarter-finals.
However, Ancelotti was keen to stress that Torres - like fellow substitutes Michael Essien and Florent Malouda - were only left out the starting line-up due to the importance of the upcoming match with City.
"The players not involved from the beginning will play on Sunday," he said. "I wanted to maintain the players fresh and with good motivation.
"If we want to achieve something, we'll need all the players with good motivation. The only reason (he didn't start) is that we will have these players - Essien, Malouda and Torres - fresh for City."